Celebration Marking the Life of Milo Rediger is Friday

By Jim GarringerPublished: Jul 22, 2013

Dr. Milo A. Rediger

A celebration of the life of late Taylor University dean and president Dr. Milo A. Rediger will be held Friday, July 26, at 10:00 a.m., in the Memorial Prayer Chapel on the Taylor campus. The day marks Rediger’s 100th birthday. Rediger was president emeritus of Taylor when he fell ill in October 1988 and died a few days later.

Scheduled speakers include Taylor President Emeritus Dr. Jay Kesler, Emeritus History Professor Dr. William C. Ringenberg and others who knew him personally. According to Rediger’s sons, Wesley and Nelson, all who knew him are also invited to share memories focusing on his values, principles, beliefs, and meaning in their lives and for Taylor University.

Rediger served the Taylor campus for nearly five decades after his graduation as a faculty member, dean and eventually president. During his tenure Rediger spearheaded Taylor University’s first accreditation, was a vocal advocate for the inclusion of students in the institutional governance process, and was instrumental in the implementation of the community life model that is one of Taylor’s best known hallmarks. Upon his retirement in 1975, one of his fellow college presidents said of his Taylor career, “It was better for Taylor to have Dr. Rediger than to have been given $10 million. His colleagues had an enormous respect for him.”

Following the service will be an observance at the Jefferson Cemetery, the resting place of Rediger and his wife Velma.